Tasmania Law Reform Institute

New scholarship in law honours Dr Vanessa Goodwin

The University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government have established a law scholarship in honour of the late and highly respected Attorney-General, lawyer and criminologist, Dr Vanessa Goodwin.

Vanessa Goodwin MLCThe Dr Vanessa Goodwin Law Reform Scholarship has been generously funded from Dr Goodwin’s estate and contributions from the Tasmania Law Reform Institute, the Tasmanian Government, the Department of Justice and the University of Tasmania.

In keeping with Dr Goodwin’s passions, the scholarship criteria will include interest in law reform and social justice. It will be awarded annually for a student entering Year 4 or 5 of a Bachelor of Laws or combined Law degree, or final year of a Criminology major. It will include a research internship with the Tasmania Law Reform Institute.

The Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Law and Education at the University of Tasmania, Professor Kate Darian-Smith, said scholarships provided invaluable support in helping students realise their dreams through education. “We are immensely proud and grateful to be able to offer a scholarship that honours an inspiring graduate of this university. Dr Goodwin made a huge contribution through the law and through her academic career,” Professor Darian-Smith said.

“This scholarship provides support at a critical time in the student’s undergraduate degree. It will ease the burden of financial pressure that can take students’ focus away from their learning at a critical time in their course.”

The Director of the Tasmania Law Reform Institute, Associate Professor Terese Henning, said Dr Goodwin was a strong advocate of social justice and sound law reform throughout her career.

“She gave numerous important references to the Tasmania Law Reform Institute and acted on its recommendations. She also contributed to the undergraduate law Degree by giving guest lectures in her areas of expertise. This scholarship is a fitting tribute to her work,” Associate Professor Henning said.

Dr Goodwin died of cancer in 2018 at the age of 48. She held a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and a PhD in Law from the University of Tasmania, as well as a Master of Philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge.

Before being elected to Parliament in 2009, she worked as an Associate to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, and as a research assistant for the Tasmanian Governor.

Applications for the Dr Vanessa Goodwin Law Reform Scholarship close on 31st October. For more information on this and other University of Tasmania scholarships:  https://info.scholarships.utas.edu.au/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2773

Published on: 06 Aug 2019